I've just returned {& am trying to recuperate from} the most amazing Teachers Pay Teachers Conference in Las Vegas! It's honestly hard to know where to begin, and the entire event is a bit of a blur {in the best way possible}. Check out my FLOOD of photos featuring new and old friends, meet-ups, sessions, and learn what my biggest take-aways were from this year's event.

// Make a Splash Teacher Bash 2015 //{Watch slideshow below}

What an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING way to kick of #TPTVegas15!! The "Make a Splash Teacher Bash" was the birth-child of two bloggie-friends, who had never met, lived across the country from each other, and wanted to squeeze in pool time as well as ensure they got together in person at a meet-up while in Vegas. What it turned into....was something amazing! Ashlyn @ The Creative Classroom and I teamed up to rally attendees and sponsors to donate goodies for giveaways for this event! We ended up having around 40 teachers and TONS of fabulous prizes. THANK YOU TO ALL ATTENDEES AND SPONSORS WHO DONATED!

The BEST PART?!?!? I cannot even express how AWESOME it was to meet and TRULY MINGLE and get to know the ladies and gentle-man at our fun little event! We develop amazing relationships via social media and may have even met in person at last year's mega-meet-up, but I SO COMPLETELY appreciate every.single.interaction with every.single.person who attended our event. Seeing them again at the teacher/blogger meet-up Wednesday night was a WONDERFUL surprise, because the ice was broken, we had legitimate things to chat about, and it made an event of over 1,000 attendees seem more personal. Better yet....those of us who attended the event get to continue collaborating and supporting each other, which we can never get enough of.

// PLAN AHEAD FOR #MAKEASPLASHVEGAS2016! //
Can't wait for an even better event next year!

// Sessions, Take-Aways, & New Friends //{WATCH SLIDESHOW BELOW}

I think pretty much everyone attending the TPT Conference agrees this was the BEST.WEEK.EVER. Exhausting, slightly overwhelming, INSPIRING....and AMAZING. Between meeting blogging besties and celebri-teachers in person, to inspirational and business-focused conference sessions, this experience cannot be summed up in words. There is something MAGICAL about making IN-PERSON connections with people you feel you know so well from digital outlets and social media. It's EMPOWERING to be surrounded by supportive, collaborative, outstanding educators...who also have a mind for business. I'm grateful for this experience, and every session and friend I encountered along the way!!! XOXOXOXO

My mind is racing, spinning, churning, and EXPLODING with so many TAKE-AWAYS from the conference. Overall, despite a plethora of other tidbits, I think these are the most important take-aways from last week:

WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. {{{'NUFF SAID}}}

FIND YOUR NICHE...AND THEN NICHE DOWN {{{FOCUS}}}

MAKE TIME FOR CREATIVITY FIRST.

DON'T LET ANYONE CONTROL YOUR TIME

BE TRUE TO YOU.

WORK HARD & BE HUMBLE.

MAKE MANAGEABLE TO-DO LISTS.

MAKE THE MOST OF SOCIAL MEDIA & BE EFFICIENT.

// Colleagues, old Friends, Supporters //{WATCH SLIDESHOW BELOW}

I DO NOT even know where to begin. I love these two. I have the privilege and pleasure of working with them daily {and am on the same team as Ben}, but this experience was just more amazing than I could have ever imagined...and we ALL needed it. #letmetellyou #thestruggleisreal

WE HAD A LITTLE FUN, TOO....From rooming with Lisa, listening to 90s and early 2000s jams while we got ready....to celebrating Ben's birthday with 3rd row seats @ the Beatles LOVE, this team experience was PERFECT. THANK YOU BOTH for everything. I value and am grateful for your friendship, collegial support, realism, and inspiration. XOXO

// ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? //

Let's keep the "good times rolling" and the spirit of Vegas alive with a fun giveaway! As a thank you for reading this post, enter to win EVERY SINGLE STYLISH STATIONERY design in my TPT store! See a preview below and fill out the Rafflecopter for a Vegas-style chance to win big. THE MORE YOU ENTER.....THE BETTER YOUR ODDS!